A new study proves race and gender-related disparities exist in care for patients who have recently been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). The study, published in the July edition of HeartRhythm, the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), includes data from more than 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Results notably indicate that female patients compared to male patients are less likely to receive oral anticoagulation, a medication used to lower the likelihood of experiencing a stroke. Women are also less likely than men to receive an ablation, as were Hispanics versus whites.

Hospitals in the Midwest were more likely than others to refer patients for guideline-recommended cardiac rehabilitation following angioplasty, according to new original research. This is possibly because more rehab programs are available in the region.